Sir Charles a gracious guest

Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley photo-bombs Joann Nguyen at the Alamo while visiting San Antonio on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley photo-bombs Joann Nguyen at the Alamo while visiting San Antonio on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News

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Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley (left) waves to fans while on a barge passing through a lock on the Museum Reach section of the San Antonio River on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley (left) waves to fans while on a barge passing through a lock on the Museum Reach section of the San Antonio River on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News

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Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley jokes with Mayor Julián Castro and his wife, Erica Lira Castro, at the Alamo while visiting San Antonio on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley jokes with Mayor Julián Castro and his wife, Erica Lira Castro, at the Alamo while visiting San Antonio on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News

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Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley poses for a picture with Doug Hilbert and 6-month-old daughter Leila Mei Hilbert at La Gloria Ice House while visiting San Antonio on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley poses for a picture with Doug Hilbert and 6-month-old daughter Leila Mei Hilbert at La Gloria Ice House while visiting San Antonio on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News

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Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley jokes with Mayor Julián Castro and his wife, Erica Lira Castro, at the Alamo while visiting San Antonio on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley jokes with Mayor Julián Castro and his wife, Erica Lira Castro, at the Alamo while visiting San Antonio on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News

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Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley tries one of the molcajete dishes at La Gloria Ice House while visiting San Antonio on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley tries one of the molcajete dishes at La Gloria Ice House while visiting San Antonio on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News

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Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley (left front) and others ride a barge on the Museum Reach section of the San Antonio River on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley (left front) and others ride a barge on the Museum Reach section of the San Antonio River on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News

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Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley (left) and San Antonio Express-News columnist Roy Bragg take in the sights on the Museum Reach section of the San Antonio River on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley (left) and San Antonio Express-News columnist Roy Bragg take in the sights on the Museum Reach section of the San Antonio River on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News

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Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley (left) gives a thumbs up to fans while on a River Walk tour with San Antonio Express-News columnist Roy Bragg on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley (left) gives a thumbs up to fans while on a River Walk tour with San Antonio Express-News columnist Roy Bragg on Monday, May 28, 2012.

If you believed the signs fans held at the AT&T Center on Sunday night, basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley is the most reviled man in San Antonio since Gen. Santa Anna laid siege to the city.

But if you saw him in action around town as I did Monday — at lunch at La Gloria, floating on a barge down the San Antonio River or mingling with locals and tourists — you’d think he was the most beloved.

Santa Anna may have won the Battle of the Alamo, but Barkley won the Public Relations War.

It was an epic comeback, considering Barkley has, over the years, joked about Alamo City’s night life (thin), women (not thin) and, most recently, the River Walk, which he described as a “dirty little creek.”

But everyone was in good spirits and smiling Monday as Barkley took me up on an invitation to see some of the city.

We broke bread at La Gloria. Barkley got cheers as he entered.

“This is called Gringa, or ‘white girl’” said Chef Johnny P. Hernandez, describing some cheese and pork quesadillas served at our table. Barkley saw the darker, beef quesadillas on another plate. “What are those? Black girls?”

Anyone who watches Barkley on the air knows that he’s bright and funny. He’s also a nice guy — genuine and friendly to strangers and grateful for what he’s got.

“I’m just trying to make it fun,” he said, explaining his on-air comments and quips. “They’re all just jokes. As long as people are enjoying themselves and watching basketball, that’s all that matters.”

After the meal, Barkley posed patiently for dozens of pictures.

A teenage boy asked for an autograph.

“How are you doing in school?” Barkley asked.

“I’m doing all right,” the boy answered.

“Good,” Barkley said as he signed. “You stay on those books. The world has enough dumb people.”

We made our way to one of Rio San Antonio’s barges, docked nearby. Barkley passed a riverside sign that read “Do Not Drink the Water.”

“Do they think someone is stupid enough to drink this water?” he said, laughing.

A crowd had gathered on the dock. Barkley met barge driver Chris Toepel, who goes by the nickname “Chuy.”

“I picked the Spurs to win the series!” Barkley said, in mock protest to the man. “What more can I do?”

Then, he turned to me, laughing: “No one remembers that. They just remember what they want to remember.” He shrugged his shoulders.

Toepel pointed out a sculpture, consisting of large orange fish dangling from the Interstate 35 bridge.

Barkley saw an opening.

“That was a waste of money,” he said of the artwork. “You wasted that cash, bro.”

The next sculpture consisted of metal hands linked together. Said Barkley: “You guys have a lot of time for sculpture down here.”

The boat went through the lock connecting the Museum Reach and the downtown section. “If anything happens,” he announced. “I’m going to sue the hell out of y’all. Nothing personal. It’s a financial decision.”

All along the river, passers-by shouted his name. He responded to every single shout-out with a “Have a great day” or “Have a blessed day.” The boat stopped at Mexican Manhattan — the restaurant that catered the trip — and he shook hands with waitress Fabiola Bocanegra, described by co-owner Kenneth Karem as the tiniest person on the staff but the biggest NBA fan.

We got out at the Hyatt Regency and made our way to the Alamo and to meet the mayor.

“Everyone’s been fantastic here,” he told the mayor. “I want to thank you for making that video.” He was referring to Castro’s tongue-in-cheek video response to Barkley’s comments. “It was funny. I never met a mayor with a sense of humor.”

The mayor mentioned Barkley’s one-time interest in running for office in his native Alabama.

“I thought about it,” Barkley said, “then I decided those people are crazy.”

And with that, they went their separate ways. The NBA great made his way back to his barge.

He posed for more pictures, then photo-bombed Trung Lee and Joann Nguyen as he tried to snap a picture of her in front of the Alamo.

We posed for pictures together. Then we shook hands. Then he climbed onto his barge to return to his hotel.

“I had a good time,” he said. “It’s a great town.”

I already liked the guy. Now that I spent time with him, I like him even more.